The latest from Klein ISD

Liz Johnson, Klein ISD’s spokesperson, said classes were set to resume at all but one of the district’s 38 schools on Wednesday. Both staff and students will return the same day.

Metzler Elementary on West Rayford Road is the only campus that will not open, Johnson said, because power had not been restored to that school as of late Tuesday.

“As late as 4 p.m. (Tuesday) we were hoping the power would come on at Metzler and we were all ready to rally and get it ready to open on Wednesday, but that did not happen,” Johnson said. “However, we never dreamed we would have so many schools ready to go by this point. We are almost at 100 percent.”

The district’s plan is to open campuses 24 hours after receiving power in order to allow time to restart and check all systems and to get food service systems operational.

Johnson said the district is optimistic the electricity will be on at Metzler this week, but if that does not happen, district officials are working on alternative solutions that would allow Metzler students and staff to resume classwork early next week.

If and when the power does come on, she said the district’s maintenance and custodial staff members have been working around the clock to get Metzler ready to open as soon as all systems and checked and cleared.

Since the storm passed, Klein ISD maintenance and custodial crews have been working at each school to make immediate repairs, and have tested mechanical and computer systems as soon as power was restored. Johnson said there are some repairs jobs that will be contracted out, and some schools have more extensive damage than others. For example, Klein High School is missing some brickwork on the exterior of the building.

“The district is also looking beyond the needs of the school facilities to work with families and students who are still without power,” Johnson said. “(Klein ISD Superintendent) Dr. (Jim) Cain has talked with our school principals about how they can support their students and families.”

Johnson said the district has utilized several methods to get the word out to parents and students about returning to school. There are messages posted on each school’s front marquis sign with information on the school’s power status, and phone numbers to call for additional information. The district’s automatic telephone messaging service contacted parents and students, and there is information posted on the district’s Web site, she said.